Applesauce Spice Cake

﻿﻿Family Day at Purdue University brought us down to campus for a weekend of fun and football. When looking over recipes to serve on the tailgate table, this applesauce cake caught my eye. As many of you that frequently bake might testify, I rarely follow a recipe as it’s written. I am constantly checking my stash of leftovers to see how they can be transformed into deliciously satisfying baked goods. ﻿﻿This week, I adapted an apple cake recipe that I found in an old community cookbook to create this moist, dense cake. I had made applesauce earlier in the week and I was looking for ways to use it up before having to freeze it. This cake fit the bill and everyone enjoyed its apple and cinnamon spiced flavor. The recipe is especially good with a cup of hot tea or coffee on a cool fall or winter day.

Applesauce Spice Cake

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups applesauce (chunky or homemade style)

1 cup canola oil

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup whole oats

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray, with cooking spray, a 13×9 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix first six dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine applesauce, oil, and eggs; mix well. Pour dry ingredients into applesauce mixture and combine until well blended. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle batter with oats and nuts. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Linda, this cake looks and sound wonderful! I bet your kitchen smelled like fall… I just read an article recently that said write all over recipes inside your recipe books, make them your own! Good for you. 🙂